CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
In my world, appearances were everything. Who you were and who you appeared to be weren’t always one and the same. Everything on the surface was a well-choreographed illusion crafted to show the world what we wanted it to see—andonlywhat we wanted it to see.
To this room, Malcolm Huntington was the doting father, accepting his future son-in-law with a smile on his face. To the unsuspecting masses, two powerhouse families would finally unite. Tatum and I were two people brought up in the same world who ended up falling in love. Not a single expression on anyone’s face disputed it. Not even Khalid’s.
It didn’t take much to piece everything together when I saw Khalid at the theater and heard Malcolm was having a party in which he’d planned on making a special announcement.
I gave Malcolm the benefit of the doubt. I waited in the wings—despite his security detail’s attempts to make me leave. I held my tongue. I assumed the man would at least have the decency to warn his daughter first.
Instead, he was standing here, ready to throw her to the wolves, in a crowded room—with a smile on his face. I wanted to rip him apart with my bare hands.
At least with me, it wasn’t a total shock to her system. We did have a history. As far as I knew, she’d never even met Khalid before tonight.
As soon as he sat at their table, and Malcolm brought upfamilyand adding to it, the thread that bound my self-control snapped.
Tatum tensed under my touch as soon as the words left my lips.
Khalid ground his teeth together so hard it could be heard from where I stood.
Lincoln smirked, then lifted his glass of champagne. The rest of the room followed.
Malcolm lost all color in his face, and I noticed sweat beading across his forehead.
Still, they all smiled and toasted the occasion.
While Malcolm pretended to congratulate his daughter and me, I leaned down close to Khalid’s ear.
“Thank you for keeping my seat warm.” My lips curved up in a slow grin. “You may leave now.” My gaze fell to where he pulled his hand from Tatum’s thigh. “And if you ever touch her again, I will cut your fingers off one by one with a dull blade.”
Tatum gasped, and I gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
Khalid scooted his chair back and stood. He feigned a handshake and a smile. “You didn’t put out the fire. You’ve just doused it in gasoline.”
Little did he know, I wasn’t afraid of a few flames. I would burn this whole motherfucker down before I’d let him take her.
I shook Malcolm’s hand, then took Khalid’s now empty seat.
Malcolm looked me in the eye and smiled.
In hunting, there was a warning. When an animal felt threatened—like a snake or a lion—it would bare its teeth. It was a display of aggression or dominance, a reminder of their ability to fill your bloodstream with venom or rip out your throat.
I remembered that warning as I bared my teeth and smiled back.
Malcolm turned his smile to the room full of guests. “Thank you.” He rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder, and she placed hers on top of it. “We’re thrilled to finally bring our two families together.” He lifted his champagne again. “And for the final announcement of the evening, I wanted you, my closest friends and family, to hear it first. This spring, I’ll be officially announcing my campaign for United States president.”
Khalid stood against the back wall with his arms folded across his chest, unphased. Applause erupted throughout the room, followed by a few whistles and shouts of congratulations.
I didn’t care about any of that. My only concern was the woman next to me.
Tatum refused to look at me. Her posture was perfect, and her expression gave no hint to her emotions. She raised her champagne glass to her lips and took a long drink. She faced the room with a smile as she set the glass back down and clapped along with everyone else. Then, with practiced grace, she slid her chair from the table and walked quietly out the door.
I moved to follow her, but Huntington grabbed my elbow and halted me.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”
I turned to face him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Anyone looking on would have assumed we were simply two people having a friendly conversation. A man congratulating his soon-to-be father-in-law.
“My way was the easy way,” Malcolm said, and I laughed.